freenovelworld Chapter 144 - I can't bear to read any more!
Chapter 144 - I can't bear to read any more!
As Mu Xin Nuan had expected, the next day, after Mu Chang An finished his morning court session, she hurriedly had someone invite him to her Rong Yuan at the second gate.
The old lady didn't beat around the bush and directly explained the matter. Mu Chang'an, in turn, followed Mu Xin Nuan's suggestion from the previous night. Upon hearing that it involved high-ranking figures, the old lady naturally dared not say anything more.
Mu Chang'an finally breathed a sigh of relief and went back to Jinyuan to have breakfast.
He ate a few bites and drank a cup of tea in a hurry, then left the mansion and returned to the yamen.
When Liu Haiye couldn't get any news, he naturally urged Mu Changchun to return to the manor to inquire.
Mu Xin Nuan had already anticipated how things would develop, but she had someone invite Liu Tingting over separately. She recounted Liu Haiye's situation, adding that she had heard it from her mother, who said her father had mentioned it casually, suggesting that there might be other arrangements from above. If her father could make the decision, he naturally wouldn't refuse anymore. After all, they were family, weren't they?
Actually, Mu Xinnuan was overthinking it. In Liu Tingting's mind, Liu Haiye, as a father, was practically nonexistent!
Thinking back to the years they spent in the Liu family mansion, and then looking at the past three years in the Mu family mansion, whether they were dressed well or not, or ate well or not, was secondary. The key thing was that in the Mu family mansion, not a single person treated them, the siblings, as outsiders!
Every season's new clothes, every month's tea and silver, and even the charcoal incense in winter—aren't they all based on the allowances of Mu Xin Nuan, this proper young lady?
That's all fine. Whether it's during meals and tea, or casual conversations, her aunt treats her like her own daughter! Although her aunt is also good to Mu Xinyao, her attitude is still not as affectionate as towards her.
Thinking about all this, Liu Tingting felt that her parents had really let down the uncle and aunt!
Thinking back over the past three years, have my parents ever sent a single tael of silver to my younger brother for his tuition, plus their food, clothing and other necessities? Even during the occasional New Year's holidays, they would only send a small gift to the old lady. They never thought of sending any money to my uncle and aunt.
Not to mention her older and younger cousins! Liu Tingting only gets a red envelope from her father and mother during the Chinese New Year!
Liu Tingting already felt that her family had let her uncle's family down, and now that she heard that her father had made such a fuss, wasn't this just making things difficult for her uncle? She and her younger brother were living and eating at the Mu residence, and although her maternal grandparents were there, she still felt a little uncomfortable! Unfortunately, her father and mother were both unreasonable, and no matter how anxious she was, there was nothing she could do.
"Elder sister, please stop talking. I understand. This time, it was Father and Mother who put Uncle in a difficult position."
Seeing how sensible Tingting was, Mu Xinnuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was right; this cousin was indeed more intelligent and better at considering the bigger picture than her cousin.
“Tingting, actually, your uncle isn’t an outsider. If your father could help, he certainly would. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone through so many connections last year to get your uncle transferred to the capital. To be honest, your father was initially reluctant. You know, your father is a scholar, and deep down, he has a certain pride. Asking him to ask others to put in a good word for him felt like a loss of face for your father. However, thinking that if they could come to the capital, you and your siblings could spend more time with your aunt and uncle, it would ultimately be a good thing.”
“I understand what you’re saying, elder sister. Don’t worry, if Mother comes to inquire about the news again, I will speak with her myself.”
"That would be great. But Auntie is gentle by nature, so please be careful what you say and don't hurt her feelings."
"Don't worry, elder sister, I know what I'm doing."
With Liu Tingting's assurance, Mu Xinnuan naturally felt much more at ease!
Sure enough, Mu Changchun came again in less than two days.
When Mu Xin Nuan arrived this time, she was with Li Shi at her maternal grandparents' house, so they didn't run into each other. Liu Ting Ting, however, did.
"Mother, does my elder brother mean he's not going to help my husband?" Mu Changchun said, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.
Liu Tingting, who was standing nearby, was displeased. How could her mother do this? Asking for a favor always involves the possibility of success or failure! Now that things haven't gone well, she's blaming her uncle? What kind of talk is that?
The old lady sighed, "How can we women understand the affairs of the court? Since Chang'an said that the higher-ups have other plans, then it must be true. Haiye is not an outsider, so why wouldn't he help an outsider?"
Mu Changchun, however, clearly didn't think so. Tilting her head, she looked somewhat annoyed. "Mother, it's not that I'm being mean. Think about it, he's just a fifth-rank official! Why would he need to alarm the higher-ups? This is clearly just an excuse my elder brother came up with!"
Mu Changchun grew angrier the more she thought about it. She was still thinking about how, when they were drinking together last time, it didn't seem very lively on the other end of the line. Clearly, they were looking down on her husband!
“If you don’t want to help, just say so. We can always spend money to ask someone else! My husband has already inquired, and the Vice Minister of Works said that you should just go directly to me. Why is it that you’re shirking all responsibility when it comes to me?”
The old lady was also somewhat displeased upon hearing this. Firstly, because of Mu Changchun's attitude, she felt that her daughter had become so unreasonable. Secondly, she wondered if her eldest son had really deceived her.
Liu Tingting, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore and stared straight at Mu Changchun!
"What's wrong with Mother? In officialdom, there are always too many people talking. Didn't Grandmother just say that Uncle couldn't make the decision on this matter? How can you say that about Uncle? Don't forget, it was Uncle who used his connections to get Father transferred to the capital a year ago! If Uncle wasn't willing to help the Liu family, why did he have to swallow his pride and ask others for help in the first place?"
Upon hearing this, the old lady exclaimed, "Yes! It was my eldest son who arranged for Liu Haiye to come to Beijing. If he really didn't intend to help, why did he have to bring him to Beijing in the first place?"
Mu Changchun was furious upon hearing this, glaring fiercely at his daughter. "Adults are talking, what right do you, a child, have to interrupt? What business is it of yours? Do you even have the right to speak? What do you know, you're just a little kid?"
The old lady was displeased upon hearing this and slammed her cane heavily on the ground. "What are you doing? How do you raise your daughter? What kind of mother are you?"